About OSA

Welcome to Overcoming Sexual Abuse. My daughter, Bethany, and I started OSA together in 2009. As survivors of childhood sexual abuse, we looked for online support groups but we couldn’t find what we were looking for. Our search turned up two types of groups: The first type was extremely supportive and nurturing, but lacked any belief in or commitment to healing. It was merely a place to share struggles, yet without hope of finding a way out. The second type was very uplifting and encouraging, yet gave the impression that healing was a matter of determination and positive attitude. We knew from our own healing journey that all of those were necessary to heal, but we also knew that without practical answers and tools for recovery there would be no permanent improvement. Since we didn’t find what we were looking for, we started our own group and Overcoming Sexual Abuse was born.

In our first year, we were overwhelmed by the response to Overcoming Sexual Abuse. We were amazed by the number of people, both men and women, who seemed eager for someone to bring up the topic so they could tell their own stories. Some of them had never told anyone of their abuse and others had shared their past, yet were still living with its crippling effects.

The things we share are the tools we’ve picked up along the way, the truths we’ve found useful. The new life we’ve found is thrilling, exhilarating, sometimes scary, surprising and it’s ours! If you share our history, our sincere hope is that you join us along the healing path.

Christina Enevoldsen

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the truth. Truth is stability in a chaotic world; it stands solid in the midst of brokenness. Truth is safe.

As a kid, my hero was teen detective, Nancy Drew, who boldly investigated clues and lived to solve mysteries. Nothing fascinated her more than finding the truth. In my teen years, Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple was my favorite amateur sleuth. A sweet, unassuming, grandmotherly-type, nobody could fool her. Miss Marple always saw past the deceits and facades, even when the police were stumped. I still enjoy crime novels and picture myself catching the thieves and murderers next to the fictional detectives.

Though I’ve always loved the truth, my childhood sexual abuse meant most of my life was based on lies and secrets. Instead of the criminals hiding the truth, it was my own mind concealing it. For years, I repressed the memory of my own abuse and denied my daughter’s abuse as well. I imagined myself an eagle-eye detective, yet the truth remained hidden to me.

My recovery from sexual abuse has been the discovery of truth. Telling the truth about my past was the first step in healing. Every step has come by overturning the lies the abuse taught me. Each painful feeling leads me to a clue; each haunting memory is a puzzle piece that leads me to the truth. The healing process reminds me of a murder mystery, except that my goal isn’t to find out “Whodunit?” Rather, it’s about “Who am I?” My restoration has been the process of uncovering my distorted image to find my true, genuine self. I love truth.

I live in Scottsdale, Arizona with my husband, Don. We share two sons, a daughter and six grandchildren. My passion is writing and speaking about personal growth and inspiring people toward wholeness but I love quiet corners in my home where I enjoy reading, scented candles, and chai lattes.

Bethany

When I meet people and they ask what I do, I typically roll my eyes. I live in Hollywood – Land of the Superficial. I don’t want to be just a job title or a stepping stone to someone. I want people to ask who I am as a person. So, who am I? I’m a girl who’s pretty spunky at times – maybe even mischievous. Yes, I was sexually abused by my father, but that’s not who I am.

All my life I had grand ideas of who I wanted to be when I grew up. Then, I actually grew up and found myself stuck. I was living the 9 to 5 office life that my dad always wanted for me, all while dreaming of the day I could break free and let my creative juices spill over.

And one day it all happened. When I was 24 I finally made the decision to report my dad to authorities. It was my first “No” to him and oh, it felt good. I was no longer under his control and who he destined me to be. My “No” to my father was a big fat “YES” to my dreams and the life I always wanted to live. I could do what I wanted, be the person that I wanted. I was finally free to be me. I’m still in the process of finding who I am apart from what the abuse taught me, but this journey has been one that is well worth it.

The search for who I am has led me down that creative path I’d yearned for so long. I picked up my brushes again and got to work as a freelance makeup artist – something my dad said “No” to long-long ago. I’m finally being the me I’ve longed for, but was never allowed to be.

So, who am I? I’m Bethany – artist, jokester, performer, fighter, with a touch of eccentric. I love to push the barriers of creativity. Bring on the art! Everyday I get to ask myself, “What are we going to make today?”, and I think to myself, “Yes, I’m finally who I want to be.”

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Welcome to OSA

Overcoming Sexual Abuse inspires, empowers, educates & supports male and female survivors of sexual abuse. We hope you participate and share your stories, feelings, victories, defeats, insights & hopes along the way to embracing your new life. If you know someone else who would benefit from joining us, invite them to come along.

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Insights

Mistakes were dangerous because they drew attention; I thought perfection would keep me from being noticed. But if I was too good at something, that drew attention too, so I’d quit. Even if I loved the thing I quit, I’d find something about it that made it intolerable. Actually, IT wasn’t intolerable; the attention it brought me was intolerable. My rule was “be good enough, but not too good.”— Christina Enevoldsen